It could hardly have started any worse. Kylian Mbappé’s first months as Caen owner looked close to turning into a disaster, with the Normandy club facing the possibility of relegation to the third tier and supporters accusing the new regime of poor management and a lack of direction. And yet, after those difficult opening months, the Real Madrid forward has begun to reshape the club, making some significant decisions along the way. Mathieu Bodmer, Caen’s new deputy sporting director, has defended the work being carried out by the Mbappé family. The former Le Havre executive has spoken out against the criticism aimed at the new ownership, insisting that the focus is on rebuilding the club from the ground up, starting with the academy. Among the decisions that impressed him most is one introduced by Fayza Lamari, Mbappé’s mother: a ban on mobile phones inside the training centre.
Speaking to L’Équipe, Bodmer rejected the accusations that have followed the arrival of the Mbappé family at Caen. In his view, much of the criticism directed at the new owners ignores the situation they inherited. “I find them unfair. The problems were already there before the new owners arrived. Mistakes have been made, as they are in any organisation, and there will probably be others. That is part of the process.” For Bodmer, bringing Caen back will require time, patience and a long-term approach. He stressed that success cannot be built through investment alone. “Money does not guarantee immediate results. You have to create a solid structure, develop players, build an identity and work consistently over time.”
The academy is one of the foundations of the new direction. Bodmer pointed to the improvements made across the youth setup, from education and accommodation to nutrition and the daily support provided to young players. Among the most notable changes is the decision to remove smartphones from the training centre, a measure promoted by Fayza Lamari. For the Caen sporting director, the impact has already been visible in the everyday life of the group. “It is an excellent idea. The boys have started talking to each other again, they spend more time together and the atmosphere has improved.” Bodmer also wanted to underline his appreciation for the commitment of the Mbappé family, convinced that their decision to invest in Caen is a sign of their desire to make the club competitive again. “I really appreciate the fact that they decided to commit themselves to a club that means so much to me, especially at such a delicate moment, both on the pitch and behind the scenes.”